Sketch & Stash #19

Here we are again with another Sketch & Stash challenge and that means another fab sketch from Becky!
I decided that I'd attempt a Christmas(ish!) card with this sketch as I haven't made ANY yet and I'm starting to panic. I know it's not very christmassy, but I have to work up to these things slowly (as anyone who knows me will tell you, I HATE making christmas cards!!)

Card Details:
* Image - Whiff of Joy 'Willow with Cookies'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Laura Ashley
* Everything else from my stash

It would be lovely if you managed to make something for Sketch & Stash and don't forget that you have two weeks to join in the fun on our challenges. Becky's sketch was so great to use, and I'm sure that the other DT cards will give you loads of inspiration, as they're all gorgeous!
I've had such fun visiting all your blogs to see what you did with the last challenge. It was such a shame, but I couldn't get to see a few of the entries as Blogger wouldn't let me in, so if you're planning on joining in again, please make sure that you've set up your profile to allow views and comments.

I'd love if you joined in with my blog candy as this is the first time I've ever done this and I'm a bit nervous (to say the least!) I'll be adding some more bits to it and posting a piccy of the additions and a list of what's included nearer the time.

Look at all this Candy!!

Speaking of candy there is lots of gorgeousness out there at the moment and it certainly puts mine to shame, here's just a little taster....


Carol is offering this yummy candy until 13/09 so she can make some room, what for? we'll have to wait to find out!


Helen is also offering her gorgeous candy until 13/09 to celebrate her first blogoversary.


Pollycraft are offering this as just part of their candy, to celebrate all the good things they have coming up and it's open until 14/09


The lovely Lena's non-fattening candy is open until 15/09 to celebrate a year of blogging.


Ila is offering this wonderful candy to celebrate the end of Summer, open until 20/09


Jill is offering this fabulous candy until 23/09 to celebrate passing her degree, Congratulations Jill!


Semsee is offering THREE chances to win some gorgeous candy to celebrate her new DT positions and her new look blog until 26/09.


Samantha's scrummy candy is on offer until 30/09 to celebrate the first anniversary of her blog.

An Anniversary Card

Hi, I've been MIA for a few days again but I'm back today with a card for my best friend and her DH.
Their anniversary is 2nd October (the day before my birthday so I can actually remember this one lol!) and I decided on a couple of sweet teddy bears this year with a little teddy bear charm to finish off.
This cute image was part of a RAK from a friend, so I'm afraid I have no idea what the stamp is, but if you do, please let me know as it was a lovely image to colour.
I've stamped my lovely swirly stamps direct onto the card and haven't used ANY papers for this as I wanted to keep it simple, but I actually had withdrawal symptoms!

Card Details:
* Image - part of RAK
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Stamps - Personal Impressions 'Swirls & Flourishes 1'
* Matting - Nestabilities 'Scalloped Circles'
* Sentiment from PC
* Everything else from my stash

Friday Sketchers #67

I really liked the look of the sketch this week on Friday Sketchers, so decided to join in again (two weeks in a row? I'm really on a roll! lol!)
This is NOT the type of sketch I usually do as it looks far too complicated, but actually it was easier than I thought and I may well be using it again. I did add another little flower on to the original sketch though, as my card looked a bit 'lopsided' without it. Obviously down to me as the sketch looked fine, but I think I messed up the paper sizes!

Card Details:
* Image - Sarah Kay 'A little help for Margot'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - HOTP and K & Co
* Everything else from my stash

I seem to be going through a 'paper crafting projects' phase at the moment. I can't seem to stop making little bags and boxes, unfortunately as you know, my photographic skills leave something to be desired and I can't scan them, so I'm unable to share them with you at the moment. However, if you think that you may like to 'have a go' at some of these little gift type projects I'd recommend checking out the tutorials here, here and here.
Thank you all for your continued visits and encouraging comments, I love to read them all.

Just had to spread the word......

That Ladybug and Friends are giving away some gorgeous candy.
To be in with a chance of winning these wonderful stamps and brush markers, just pop over and check out what you have to do.

Sketch & Stash Challenge # 18

I really don't know how Becky manages to do it but every fortnight she seems to come up with an even better sketch! This one was no exception and I thoroughly enjoyed using it for challenge 18 at Sketch & Stash.
I used the sketch for one of this month's dreaded men's cards, and I can honestly say it inspired me, as prior to this I hadn't a clue what I was going to make for our friend's birthday card. We originally met this couple in 2001 on a cruise and we've been friends ever since (in fact his wife is my BF!) He loves the sea, so I know the nautical theme will go down well with him.

Card Details:
* Images - Hot off the Press
* Papers - K & Co
* Sentiment - PC generated
* Everything else from my stash

I do hope that you may find time to join in the fun with us for this challenge, but even if you can't manage that, please try to check out the cards that the other girls have made as they are fabulous!

I'm just popping a link here to 'spread the word' about Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential, a brand new challenge blog that will be starting in October. At the moment Viki is looking for some DT members, so if you'd like to know more about it take a look here

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 18

Well I did warn you I may be back before Monday LOL!
I just loved Kathy's sketch at the Sugar Bowl this week, so had to give it a go. I've just noticed that I haven't used any buttons on this, so it may mean I'm not eligible for the challenge, but I thoroughly enjoyed using the sketch anyway.

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie's Gorjuss 'Flower Girl'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co and Capricious Scraps
* Everything else from my stash

I'll be back tomorrow with the latest DT card for Sketch & Stash, so see you then!

The Pink Elephant and Whiff of Joy

Well, now I think I'm getting a bit too big for my boots!! I've only gone and made a card that fits with TWO challenges (can't even remember the last time that I managed to do that LOL!)

I've used the fabulous sketch from this week's challenge at The Pink Elephant. I really liked this, it was a lovely 'clean' sketch, and as I seem to be going through a bit of a 'less is more' phase at the moment, it exactly suited my needs.

The card also fits the challenge at Whiff of Joy where the theme this week is to use 'bling' on your cards. I've covered this by adding some very sparkly glitter card to the sketch, attaching my sparkly flower with a diamante brad and there are even little diamonds on the sentiment, enough bling even for my tastes LOL!

Card Details:
* Image - Whiff of Joy 'Willow sitting with Floral Wreath'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - DCWV 'Old World' mat stack
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Embossed Zig Zag'
* Everything else from my stash

I don't know whether I'll manage to be back again before my DT card for Sketch & Stash on Monday, but the way things are going at the moment I wouldn't be at all surprised!

One Stop Craft - challenge 43

Hi everyone, well I'm here again and with another challenge! Don't know how long this can last for, but I'm making the most of the inspiration at the moment lol!
This card was for One Stop Craft's theme of 'I Believe in Angels/Fairies'.
I've had these sweet Fairy Poppet sheets for ages and always forget to use them, so thought this challenge would be a good excuse. I decided to use a little boy fairy for a change, hope you like it.

Card Details:
* Image - Fairy Poppet decoupage sheets
* Backing papers - same kit (from Ideal World ages ago)
* Border strips - Vanessa Arbuthnot for English Paper Company
* Sentiment - part of an old kit from QVC
* Everything else from my stash

My scanner decided not to play again, so I had to take a photo, my apologies as it's awful! (now you know why I ususally ask DH to take the photos lol!) The colours are mostly a lovely sage green and not the sludgy grey that it looks like in the photo.

Cute Card Thursday #74

I can't remember the last time I managed to enter a card in Cute Card Thursday's challenge as it's so long ago, but I had just made this card and I thought it fitted the bill for their theme of Lazy Dayz, where they want to see your summer inspired cards or projects.

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie 'Country Garden'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Backing papers - Laura Ashley (glittered with stickles)
* Ribbon - a gift from a dear friend
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Doily Lace'
* Sentiment - computer generated
* Everything else from my stash

I really like tags and I hadn't added any to my cards for ages, so I decided to pop this sweet girl on a plain tag, mount it onto another one made from gorgeous Laura Ashley paper and use my favourite punch to decorate the bottom.
Due to the ribbon on the top of the tag I couldn't get a decent scan, so my lovely hubby photographed it for me (I'm useless with cameras!!) It's come out looking a lot darker than it does irl, but hopefully you get the idea!

I actually made the card to enter Arline's candy challenge, which was to make her a birthday card. She said she likes cute, pink or girly and as this is all three I'm hoping she will like it.

Friday Sketchers #66

Hi all!
Well, what do you know? I've actually managed to join in with a card challenge, the first in absolutely ages woohoo!!

I needed to make a couple of men's cards for September birthdays and I'd been putting it off for ages, as I find making cards for men a real struggle, so I thought I'd try to fit them to a couple of sketches to see if that made life easier and it did!
I don't know that I've ever actually joined in with the Friday Sketchers challenge before, but I loved the look of this week's sketch which has been set by Carole and so thought I'd go for it.
It worked out perfectly for my BIL's card, he likes a drink and he loves playing cards so voila!

Card Details:
* Image & sentiment - Cuddly Buddly 'Local Lads' kit
* Backing papers - K & Co
* Mat - Nestabilities 'scalloped circles'
* Epoxy alphabet letters - K & Co

I can't show you the other man's card yet as I decided to make it my next DT card for Sketch & Stash, so you'll just have to be patient and wait until then.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 17 - DT card

Hi everyone!
I know I've been very naughty again and not posted for nearly two weeks, I'm so sorry and I have no one to blame but myself.
I don't know if it's the weather or just me being very lazy, but I honestly don't seem to have the energy or inspiration to do any card making at the moment, despite having lots of birthday cards to make as well as card requests from a friend, who puts some of my cards in her shop.
I promise it's not playing my PC game that's stopping me either, as I can't even be bothered with that at the moment. I do hope that my missing Mojo returns soon, I'm starting to think it may have emigrated as it's been soooo long now since I had any enthusiasm for cardmaking and that's just not like me!
I must have changed my mind at least a dozen times over what to do with Becky's wonderful sketch for the latest Sketch & Stash challenge, but I eventually made my decision and I hope you like it.
The other girls have created such gorgeous DT cards, I do hope you'll pop over and take a look (and maybe join in yourselves?) it really was a fabulous sketch again, I don't know how Becky manages to keep coming up with them.
My new stash was the lovely backing paper, a (freebie!) digital download from Raspberry Road, part of the 'Rose Manor' kit, whilst the girls' themselves were an image, but are available from Charmed Cards and Crafts .

Card Details:
* Backing paper - Raspberry Road 'Rose Manor' free digital download
* Designer papers - K & Co
* Image - Charmed Cards & Crafts 'Girls about Town'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Punches - EK Success 'Retro' flowers
* Everything else from stash

I'm hoping that it won't be another 2 weeks until I'm posting again ... but I'm so lethargic at the moment that I wouldn't swear to it!
I'd like to thank those of you who haven't given up on me yet and still continue to visit and leave me such encouraging comments, I'm so grateful and I enjoy reading each and every one.

A family birthday card

It was my dear sister-in-law's birthday at the end of July, so this is the card I made for her. I didn't dare post it before as she has a link to my blog, so I was scared she'd see it before the day.
She's quite fond of 'cute' and I hadn't had a chance to use this sweet little soul before, so this seemed like a good opportunity.
He's actually decoupaged onto a digital scalloped oval, but the scan makes it look like he's been set into an aperture card, how sweet!
I did try to find a challenge that this card would fit, but as usual, I failed miserably.
I'm just editing this to say 'thank you' to Wendy who let me know that as this had previously been 'neglected' stash it fitted the My Time to Craft challenge this week

Card Details:
* Backing papers - K & Co
* Image - Charmed Cards & Crafts 'Fairy Doodles'
* Scalloped mats - Daisie Company download 'Meadow Kit'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* 'Sister' sticker - K & Co
* Everything else from my stash

I made sure that I used plenty of Stickles, both on the backing paper and the image and I finished off the flowers with a diamante brad. Well, a girl can just never have too much sparkle!

Sketch and Stash Challenge 16 - DT card

I can't believe it's been a whole 2 weeks since I last updated my blog!
I'm afraid all the blame must be laid at the feet of those pesky 'Sims'. Each time I start to play the dratted game I promise that I'll pace myself and take days off to do other things, but then the addiction kicks in again and before I know it a week (or two!) has gone by.

Anyway, I digress so here is my DT card for Becky's latest sketch at the Sketch and Stash Challenge blog, I do hope you can join in the fun with us again.
Now I REALLY loved the simplicity of this sketch, it was such a nice change, so I decided to try to follow through and make a 'less is more' card. I hope I succeeded, I certainly liked the 'clean' look of this.
For some real inspiration just take a look at what the other DT members have done.

Card Details:
* Backing paper - K & Co
* Image - from a swap, so haven't got a clue I'm afraid!
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Sentiment - K & Co rub-on
* Everything else from my stash

I used a K & Co card that was part of a kit I bought years ago from QVC, so this and the rub-on is definitely my neglected stash and my new must be this lovely simple image. I keep forgetting I've got these rub-on sentiments, I don't know why as they're gorgeous, I really must use them more often.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 15 - DT card

Hi everyone, well I think Becky has just outdone herself this week for the sketch, I absolutely LOVE the versatility of this. Such a simple layout but with the chance to add loads of bits and bobs to it if required, just perfect! I hope that you'll agree and manage to join in with Sketch & Stash this week.
Don't forget you can use any image you want on the sketch and the 'optional extra' is to use your neglected scraps.
I managed to achieve this as I very rarely use these papers but I thought they had a slight 'oriental' feel so would go well with my image.
I saw a gorgeous image of a 'manga' style girl on Rachel's blog and knew I just had to check it out, but once I made it to the fabulously talented Princess Elemmiriel's gallery I was absolutely overwhelmed by her stunning creations and actually chose this image instead. She was kind enough to allow me to use her lovely drawing for my DT card even though my colouring doesn't show it to it's best advantage.
I'm going straight off now to read up on a tutorial for colouring black hair, as I've managed to make a real mess of this, the more I tried to put it right, the worse it got!

Card Details:
* Image - Princess Elemmiriel's gallery at deviantART
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania
* Everything else from my stash

Colour our World competition

Well, now that I've finished making all my required cards and I'm back in Blogland again I've been browsing the card challenges to see what I can enter. I couldn't believe it when I saw that Charmed Cards and Crafts were having another 'Colour my World' competition, so I set to and used 'Elegant Annie' for my card, I love the sweet, innocent faces of these girls.

Card Details:
* Image - Delectable Clear Stamps 'Elegant Annie'
* Design Papers - Basic Grey 'Two Scoops'
* Backing papers - Capricious Scraps freebie download 'Sunbonnet Girls'
* Scalloped mats - Nestabilities
* Sentiment tag - K & Co
* Pearls - Joanna Sheen
* Everything else from my stash

Just imagine being lucky enough to win a set of Copic pens, my dream come true!
Charmed have also got another THREE competitions running at the moment to celebrate their birthday month and the prize for these is a set of gorgeous K & Co 12 x 12 scrapbooks Mmmmmmm!

A Vintage card for Mum

Hi everyone, well what a surprise I'm actually posting something thats NOT my DT card!
I was busily making cards last week to try to re-stock my local hairdresser's shop as I'd been very bad and not made any new ones for ages. I actually managed to make 40 cards in a few days, so not too bad. I then got myself up to date with family and friend birthday cards for the rest of July and August, so hopefully I'm now free to spend some time making what I want to, instead of what I have to!

One of my most important cards for August was my Mum's birthday card. She'll be 84 this year and thankfully is keeping quite well, although she's a lot more frail than she was, following a very bad fall and long stay in hospital about this time last year. Mum favours the vintage style of card and her favourites are the Harrison Fisher ladies, but over the years I think I've used pretty much all of these images, so this year she's getting an Art Deco image. I think this is quite a striking image, and I didn't want to detract from that so I've kept everything else fairly simple.

Card Details:
* Image and Border - Card Creations 'Art Deco' CD
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Doily Lace'
* Alphabet stickers - K & Co
* Flora Doodles flower and pearls - Joanna Sheen

I hope Mum likes her card, once again I've forgotten to scan the inside, but the insert has lots of smaller 'faded' versions of the lovely image on the front, so it looks quite professional (I hope!)
I think that this card also manages to fit the challenge at One Stop Craft Challenge this week, which is 'Furry Things'
I'm hoping to manage another challenge or two before my next DT card, but if I don't get that far, I'll be back on Monday with the card for Sketch & Stash, can you believe we'll be up to Challenge 15, amazing!

Sketch & Stash Challenge #14

Hi everyone!
It's that time again and Becky's latest sketch is another winner! I've used it to make a commissioned birthday card.
The optional element this time is to use ribbon on your card, unfortunately I forgot all about this until I'd finished the card, so hopefully I'll remember to add the optional element next time, although I do seem to be getting more forgetful than ever!



Card Details:
* Image - PC Crafter kit 'Floral Bouquets'
* Papers - HOTP and Laura Ashley
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Doiley Lace'
* Corners - K & Co
* Sentiment - designed on PC
* Everything else from stash

The 'new' stash is the image from a recently purchased download kit from PC Crafter (one of my favourite haunts!) The chipboard numbers are definitely 'neglected' stash as I always forget I've got them, this must be only about the second time I've used them even though I've had them for years!

The commission was for flowers or a garden scene, so hopefully this will fit the bill for my client's Mum's 80th card. I did decorate the inside, but as usual I forgot to scan it (I did say I was getting more forgetful lately didn't I?) The card is another large 8" x 8" as this size seems just right for those 'special' cards, I think I prefer it to an A4 folded in half, it somehow looks more expensive and professional.

I seem to be spending less time than ever on crafting and blogging recently. This may, in truth, be something to do with my buying the Sims 3 game. I'm currently obsessed with it, but that will wear off, I promise. I've been addicted to The Sims since the original came out (decades ago!) I then moved on to Sims 2 when that was launched and I think I also bought every expansion pack for both of them. I wouldn't mind, but I didn't very often even play the game, just loved the design elements involved, I always knew I harboured a secret desire to be an interior designer LOL!!

I'm feeling much brighter again and more like my old self lately, so I'm sure that I'll be bouncing back again before too much longer (as soon as I'm bored with my Simmies so not too much longer now, I think!) until then, thank you for continuing to visit and leave me such fabulous comments, they really do mean a lot to me.